The nation's weather

Weather Underground Forecast for Tuesday, April 10, 2012. Areas of active weather will return to parts of the country on Tuesday. The strongest storm to impact the country will slam into the West Coast, renewing widespread rain in the area. The rain will initially hit the coast from Washington to Central California, then spread inland in a line extending southward into Southern California. While this storm will not be very cold in nature, it will produce some high elevation snow from Washington to the Sierra Nevadas of California. This will be the first in a series of storms that will slam into the West Coast for the rest of the workweek.

The severe weather risk will continue for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, as scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in the area. Some of these thunderstorms may have the ability of producing heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail along with the slight possibility of tornadoes as well. As this is severe weather season, residents should continue to monitor the progress of any potential severe weather threat and be prepared should a severe thunderstorm move into their area.

A cold low pressure system in the Northeast will keep conditions rather cool. There will not be a tremendous amount of moisture associated with this feature, but it will produce areas of snow from Ohio through New England. In addition, the cold air in place will create cold mornings from Minnesota through the Ohio Valley. Freeze Watches and Warnings are posted the next two nights in this area in anticipation of several hours of sub-freezing temperatures.

The Northeast will rise into the 40s, 50s, and 60s, while the Southeast will see temperatures in the 70s and 80s. The Northern Plains and Upper Midwest will rise only into the 30s, 40s, and some 50s, while the Northwest will see temperatures in the 60s and some 70s east of the Cascades. Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Monday have ranged from a morning low of 14 degrees at West Yellowstone, Mont. to a high of 87 degrees at Fort Myers, Fla.